'Good ties with US,Iran has placed India in significant place'

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Last Updated: Wed, Feb 13, 2013 08:26 hrs

New Delhi: India feels its good relations with the US and Iran has placed itself in a "significant position" to bridge the gap needed for a meaningful dialogue between the two countries, at loggerheads over Tehran's nuclear programme.

External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid admitted that Iran felt "disappointed" over India voting against it at the United Nations but expressed happiness over the fact that both countries are able to continue their relationship and count on each other as "good friends".

Addressing an international conference on Iran here organised by the Global India Foundation, he took pains to explain how India did not accept the "unilateral sanctions" slapped by the US on Iran and went ahead with its regular engagement with the oil-rich nation.

Khurshid said India sent a message to the world that it was not taking sides against Iran but was only taking a principle position and that despite sanctions "we would be there to be counted as a friend."

Talking about India's relations with the US, he said the ties between the two countries have evolved into a "very valuable relationship" over the last 15 years.

"We remain good friends with the US and we are extremely good friends with Iran and therefore it places us in a very significant position to be able to bridge the gaps and to provide the linkages that are necessary for a meaningful dialogue," he said.

"We did not accept unilateral sanctions imposed by the US on Iran. We can disagree and the world now recognises our ability to agree and disagree," he said. (More)